What is it?

An all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, a new flagship to breath life into the moribund Jeep brand. Based on the next-gen Merc ML platform, which Jeep has put into production ahead of Mercedes, the new Grand Cherokee is longer, wider and roomier than its predecessor. The styling is more contemporary, too, and the interior plastics and design are a welcome higher-grade.

Under the skin is independent suspension — struts at the front and a first for the Grand Cherokee, a rear multi-link axle — combined with air springs. All UK Grand Cherokee’s will get air suspension as standard. There will be a choice of four-wheel drive systems, the simpler Quadra-Trac II featuring a low-range transfer box, the higher-spec Quadra-Drive II featuring an electronic rear limited-slip diff.

New is the dash-mounted Selec-Terrain dial, which apes Land Rover’s Terrain Response system by tailoring the engine, traction, stability control and air suspension to pre-defined programs for sport, snow, auto, sand/mud and rock.

Also new is a 238bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel built by Italian maker VM Motori and part-developed by Fiat Powertrain and featuring MultiJet II common-rail injection. It promises 218g/km and 34mpg and will be the sole UK launch engine in June. The petrol V6 and hemi V8 will be special order-only, although available in right-hand drive.

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What’s it like?

A big improvement on the old Grand Cherokee, given the reservation that we’ve only experienced it on snowy Swedish roads not UK tarmac.

The ride in particular is compliant and well-damped, although like many air systems a little jittery over small imperfections.

A big step forward is the well-resolved steering, which is sensibly-weighted and responsive, particularly around the straight ahead. Hopefully this will transfer well to UK roads and driving conditions. Refinement is good, too, with road and tyre noise well suppressed, which makes the Grand Cherokee a comfortable place to chew-up the miles.

Unfortunately the all-important 3.0-litre diesel, wasn’t available for test, instead we sampled the 262bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol, which is smooth-revving, refined and delivers just about enough performance.

Well-matched to its Chrysler five-speed auto ‘box, it slips between gears smoothly, although an extra cog would help fill the torque gap for more overtaking urge. A six-speed version of this ‘box is coming, but won’t have the capacity to cope with the 406lb ft generated by the diesel, which will stick with the five-speeder.

Off-road the Grand Cherokee copes with slippy conditions very well, thanks to the well-tuned Terrain Select system and incredibly grippy Nokian winter tyres.

We spent a lot of time in the snow program, which locks the torque split at 50:50 and limits starts to second-gear only to stop excessive wheel-spin. What’s impressive is the subtle way it intervenes to prevent a spin, while allowing a little sliding around and driving fun.

Should I buy one?

We’ll wait for a definitive answer on this until a UK drive, but all the signs suggest the new Grand Cherokee will be a very keen competitor for established premium 4x4s. And with pricing that’s likely to be about 10 per cent cheaper than a VW Touareg, suggesting a list of around £35k for a 3.0 CRD Limited spec and just under £40k for a fully-loaded Overland, its could just re-establish Jeep as a force to be reckoned with in the UK.

"Unfortunately the all-important 3.0-litre diesel, wasn’t available for
test, instead we sampled the 262bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol, which is
smooth-revving, refined and delivers just about enough performance."

and

"Also new is a 238bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel built by Italian maker VM
Motori and part-developed by Fiat Powertrain and featuring MultiJet II
common-rail injection. It promises 218g/km and 34mpg and will be the
sole UK launch engine in June."

Ignore the fact in the specs.it mentions diesel. This is just Autocars lack of journalism.

I posted this the other week, thought i would post again, for those who did not read it !!!!!

(below me with Grand Cherokee Feb 2011)

I have just returned from a 2 week Holiday in Colorado USA. After arriving at Denver Airport we went to our Avis pick up, and was greeted by the All New Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ok i admit i was not shocked to get one, as i knew it had been launched in the USA and having had 2 Grand Cherokees in my time i was keen to try one out. ( I currently have an X5 so i am looking to change) Nothing winds me up more than having to make a car choice based on a 15min test drive, so living with it for 2 weeks gave me a real feel for the Car on a day to day basics.

Once taken out of the Avis car park i was met with Snow coming down, it was 5pm, getting dark, and ahead of me lay a 100 mile drive to the Hotel. I settled in switched the electronic Suspension and traction control to Snow setting and set off. This car has grip i can tell you. I arrived at our hotel still feeling refreshed. The seats are well fitted for me, Heated and (not that i needed it) have perforated leather seats which pump a/c cold air through the seats in the summer months, (yes i tried it, very nice)

The whole Car is larger and has a much more aggressive front end (bonnet reminds me of my X5 as does looking at the back. My Car had the HEMI V8 and only returned me 20mpg, im sure by the time it gets here it will have a diesel in it and proper MPG figs.

The following morning once it was light so i took a good look around the Car. I was very impressed at the quality, this Car is in another league to any other Jeep product that came before. The build quality was very clean and precise, no gaps, no bad fitting, I would even go as far to say that some parts of the interior were more solid that some of the interior in my current X5.!! Lots of buttons on the Steering wheel a fantastic music system, with a hard drive to store thousands of tracks on, you can even press a button on the steering wheel speak the name of the track and it will find it. Rear seats were very nice plenty of leg room for the Wife and Daughter. The boot has plenty of space, we were able to get 3 large bags with Ski gear, Ski boots for all 4 of us plus carry on stuff. Lift up tailgate and the Flipper glass if you want it. We had a massive sun roof all electric, (more buttons for my Son to play with) I liked the Key you have to press key flob to open car but that's it, just get in press button and it starts.

I must just go back to the Suspension, You can raise and lower the suspension,just like a discovery or range rover. all very impressive.

the Snow had cleared and i had the chance to try it in sport mode. you could feel the suspension tighten and it just rode the corners like it was on rails.

only 2 bad points. 1) Sitting in driving seat trying to close drivers door. as the door is wide opening its a long reach to grab the handle to close the door. 2) Interior mirror very large. but maybe im just being picky !!!

I have already spoken to my local dealer in the Uk who tells me that they will be out on the Uk around June/July 2011. they will be very fuel efficient 40-50 mpg. i have told him that as soon as the order book opens up, Ring Me.

Im sure there is more i could write and im sure some of you would of appreciated more spec info but im not a writer, ive just put my thoughts on what is a wonderful car and living with it for 2 weeks. I think Jeep will have a Hit on there hands when this gets to the UK.

Jeep UK if you read this, an Overland with all the gadgets at around £30,000 please !!!!

[quote paulseadoo]I have just returned from a 2 week Holiday in Colorado USA. [/quote]

Very interested to read the review! Always good to read "owners" reviews or at least people who have spent some real time with them.

I think the Fuel effeciency of the new one with the 245bhp Diesel V6 is supposed to be roughly 40 Motorway, 30 city and 35 combined, or there abouts.

[quote paulseadoo] Overland with all the gadgets at around £30,000 please [/quote]

Don't think it will be quite that cheap, especially as we have lovely 20% VAT and various other taxes and UK models will be better equipped than the equivilant US one. An Overland in the USA is just over 30K and we have VAT, import dutys and the cost of shipping to add on. But I think the starting price is just under 30K. The price for the Limited like you have in your picture is 35K and the Overland which ads stuff like rader guided cruise control, heated steering wheel,, full length sunroof, cross path detection etc is around 40K.

Cheaper and better than VW Touregs and Toyota Land Cruisers. And Spec For Spec much cheaper than the X5's and the like. To spec an X5 like an overland Grand Cherokee it would be 60K I have no doubt.

Having said that, it will tow 3.5 tonnes so perhaps it's to be expected

[/quote]

ABout right for the old one. My Current Grand Cherokee with the Mercedes V6 Diesel gets about 25MPG when making relatively rapid progress on mixed city/duel carrigeway roads. low 30's on a run.

Jeeps and Land Rovers will never be able to match BMW's etc. The off road systems in teh Jeep for example carry a lot of weight. Mine has a low range box and various other off road marvels which help make it unstoppable, but you do pay an extra few MPG for it. Plenty of soft roaders are better because they dont have to carry the extra weight.